Atlanta declined Jackson's $7 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Jackson will be paid a $2 million buyout and is now a free agent. The 33-year-old collected a 5.09 ERA and 59:26 K:BB across 53 relief innings between San Francisco and Atlanta in 2024.
Atlanta acquired Jackson and outfielder Jorge Soler from San Francisco on Monday in exchange for infielder Sabin Ceballos and left-hander Tyler Matzek (elbow), Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
Jackson will head back to Atlanta after spending time in the organization from 2017 through 2021, including winning a World Series title in his final season with the club. The right-hander possesses an inflated 5.40 ERA and 1.43 WHIP while striking out 33 batters over 35 innings in 36 appearances with the Giants this season. Jackson will provide Atlanta with another experienced right-handed arm out of the bullpen.
Jackson (4-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit in an inning of relief Thursday, taking an extra-inning loss versus the Cubs.
Just one day after picking up a win in a relief appearance, Jackson was on the hook for the loss. He gave up a two-run home run to Ian Happ in the 10th inning, and the Giants were unable to respond. Aside from Wednesday's sharp outing, Jackson has been rough lately, allowing seven runs (six earned) over his last 3.2 inning. He has a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB through 26 innings overall.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Collects fourth win
Rotowire
Jackson (4-1) walked one over 1.1 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win over the Cubs on Wednesday. He did not record a strikeout.
Hayden Birdsong went 4.2 innings in his debut and left with the game tied at 3-3. Jackson got the Giants out of the top of the fifth inning there, and Luis Matos put them ahead for a good with a solo shot in their half of the frame. Jackson had allowed five runs over 1.1 innings prior to Wednesday, and he's given up multiple runs three times in 10 appearances in June. Overall, he's struggled to a 6.12 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and 20:14 K:BB through 25 innings while adding two holds and three blown saves in a low-leverage role this year.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Adds another win
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Jackson (3-1) earned the extra-inning win Saturday over the Mets, allowing one walk over a scoreless and hitless inning.
All three of Jackson's wins have come over his last seven appearances despite the reliever giving up five runs across six innings in that span. It's been a case of him being in the right place at the right time, especially with the Giants' recent inclination to comeback wins. Jackson is at a 5.40 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 15:8 K:BB over 13.1 innings while adding two holds and three blown saves through 15 appearances this season.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Picks up second win
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Jackson (2-1) allowed a run on two hits and struck out two over one inning, earning the win Thursday over the Pirates.
Jackson allowed a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds in the seventh inning, but the Giants pulled ahead with a five-run eighth. Jackson has been scored on in four of his last five outings, allowing multiple baserunners each time he's given up at least a run. The homer was the first he's allowed all year. Jackson is at an uninspiring 5.84 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB with two holds and three blown saves over 12.1 innings this season.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Collects extra-inning win
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Jackson (1-1) allowed a walk and struck out two without giving up a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the extra-inning win Sunday over the Reds.
Jackson was tagged for three runs in his season debut and promptly went on the injured list with a back issue. He's been sharp since his return with 8.1 scoreless innings and a 7:3 K:BB in that span. Jackson has a couple of blown saves on his ledger and remains in a low-leverage role, though he pitched the 10th inning Sunday after Camilo Doval was called upon for a four-out appearance spanning the eighth and ninth frames.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Taken off IL
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The Giants reinstated Jackson (back) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
Jackson was placed on the 15-day IL after sustaining a lower-back strain in the Giants' season opener against the Padres. Jackson appeared in 33 games out of the bullpen last season, posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB over 33.1 innings. The Giants optioned right-hander Nick Avila to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Throwing from 90 feet
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Jackson (back) is currently throwing from 90 feet, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Jackson will be reevaluated Friday to see if he's ready to begin throwing off a mound. The reliever suffered a lower-back strain Opening Day and will be eligible to return next weekend, although it's not clear at this point whether he'll be ready at that time.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Placed on injured list
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The Giants placed Jackson on the 15-day injured list Friday with a lower-back strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Jackson had to leave Thursday's game against San Diego after straining his back, and the injury is apparently severe enough to sideline him for a couple of weeks. Kai-Wei Teng was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Jackson's spot in the bullpen.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Leaves game with lower back injury
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Jackson left in the seventh inning of Thursday's game against the Padres with a back injury, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.
Jackson signalled for the trainer after throwing ball four to Jackson Merrill, and Ryan Walker came in to close out the seventh. Jackson noted after the game that he felt his back tighten after his second to last pitch to Merrill, and the right-hander will undergo an MRI on Thursday night, per Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Sent for MRI
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Jackson suffered tightness in his lower back Thursday against San Diego and is being sent for an MRI, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Jackson entered the game in the seventh inning and allowed two singles and a walk to the Padres before being removed due to the injury. He suffered from a similar issue in 2023, a concerning development given this was the first game of the new campaign.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Showing strikeout upside
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Jackson has allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out four over two Cactus League innings.
Jackson missed all of 2022 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He bounced back over the latter half of 2023, posting a 2.97 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 43:15 K:BB over 33.1 innings. Jackson's strikeout totals give him some real upside, but he doesn't have a clear path to consistent late-inning work with the Giants. The right-hander should mainly pitch in the middle innings, which could give him chances to vulture wins since the Giants have a lot of uncertainty in their rotation.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Returns from paternity leave
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Jackson was activated from the paternity leave list Thursday.
Jackson missed the Giants' series against the Padres but will be available this weekend versus the Dodgers. He's been terrific out of San Francisco's bullpen this season, posting a 2.97 ERA and 43:15 K:BB over 33.1 frames.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Heads to paternity list
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Jackson was placed on the paternity list prior to Monday's game against the Padres.
Jackson will be away from the team for the next few days for the birth of his child. Sean Hjelle was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Snares win Monday
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Jackson (2-2) allowed an unearned run on a hit and two walks while striking out one over one inning, earning the win Monday over the Guardians.
Jackson was shaky in the 10th inning but limited the damage to an Andres Gimenez RBI single. The Giants rallied for two runs in their half of the frame to walk it off. Since the start of August, Jackson has allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over 17 innings with a 22:12 K:BB in that span. He's at a 3.14 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 37:15 K:BB with four holds and two blown saves through 28.2 innings. Jackson is one of few San Francisco relievers that's consistently worked later in games this year, as many have taken turns as openers or appeared early in bullpen games.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Stuck with second loss
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Jackson (1-2) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering four runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning as the Giants fell 11-8 to the Cubs. He struck out two.
A three-run shot by Christopher Morel accounted for most of the damage against Jackson, who was the fifth of six San Francisco pitchers to take the mound in an ineffective bullpen day. The right-hander has served up three long balls in his last 11 innings, leading to a 4.91 ERA over that stretch, but his 17:5 K:BB should keep him in a mid-to-high-leverage role for the Giants despite his volatility.
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Giants' Luke Jackson: Handed loss Sunday
Rotowire
Jackson (1-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and two walks while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Sunday versus the Athletics.
Jackson has taken two blown saves over five appearances since returning from a back injury, though the first of those was due to allowing an inherited runner to score. The right-hander has a still-solid 1.98 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB through 13.2 innings this season. He's in a low-leverage role, and his recent shakiness will likely keep him there for the rest of the season.
